Combination washer-drier lint removal arrangements



June 6, 1961 T. R. SMITH 2,986,917

COMBINATION WASHER-DRIER LINT REMOVAL ARRANGEMENTS Filed June 4, 1958 4Shets-Sheet 1 ,firwenl'or M, Thomas 4?. Smith /44 IEEflW/Q WI M r 1 o np.

June 6, 1961 T. R. SMITH 2,986,917

COMBINATION WASHER'"DRIER LINT REMOVAL ARRANGEMENTS Filed June 4, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6,1961

Filed June 4, 1958 T. R. SMITH 2,986,917

COMBINATION WASHER-DRIER LINT REMOVAL ARRANGEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3clfworngys T. R. SMITH June 6, 1961 COMBINATION WASHER-DRIER LINTREMOVAL ARRANGEMENTS Filed June 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 h M 0N N Q n...s m Q MN 0| mm! o m E l P 5 $0 \w m Q R 1 6 MN 0Q II n a vw m: 03 Q0 m R0 I II \m\\ m3 MQ\ 0000000000000 mm 0 O O O O O Q 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O0000000000 0 mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7| 1| 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 g 0 00 0 0 0 0 I 0 0 0 0 0 OW II. Q Q o km mm United ware Filed June 4, 1958,Ser. No. 739,749 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-20) This invention relates to acombination washer-drier for fabrics and relates in particular to ameans for automatically flushing various parts of the condenser systemof that washer-drier free from any lint which may tend to accumulate onthose areas during the drying operations of the machine.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.505,694, filed May 16, 1955, and application Serial No. 651,367, filedApril 8, 1957, now Patent No. 2,921,384.

In the Washer-drier illustrated in the accompanying drawings a generallyirnperforate cylindrical casing serves as a fluid container for washingfluid and provides a means for enclosing a revoluble clothes tumbler thecantilevered drive shaft of which is journalled in bearings supported bycooperation of two spaced rear walls at the rear of this casing. Washingoperations for the fabrics received by this tumbler are effected in aconventional manner while the drying of these fabrics is produced bycirculating the hot moisture vapors from the tumbler into a separatevapor condenser positioned between the two spaced rear walls and mountedwithin the confines of a scroll provided between those spaced walls inaccordance with the invention disclosed and claimed in the copendingJohn C. Mellinger and Paul A. Martin application, Serial No. 701,131,filed December 6, 1957, and assigned to the assignee of the instantinvention.

Air flow from the tumbler into the condenser is produced by the rotationof a blower impeller mounted between these spaced rear walls andimmediately adjacent an opening in the rear wall openly facing theperforate rear wall of the tumbler. Continuous rotation of the blowerimpeller moves air into the condenser unit so that condensation ofmoisture vapors withdrawn from the tumbler may take place within thescroll and condenser areas due to the cooling of these moisture vaporsby their contact with a misty spray of cooling fluid resulting from theimpingement of that fluid against the rotating impeller. The cool airdischarged from the condenser area is recirculated through the tumblerafter being reheated by a heating unit located in the upper region ofthe cylindrical casing enclosing the drum and communicating with theoutlet of the vapor condenser unit.

Operational tests have shown a tendency for lint given off by thetumbling of fabrics during the drying cycle to adhere and accumulate onthe rear surface of the tumbler as well as on the surface of the rearwall immediately facing that tumbler. In addition, there have been sometendencies for lint to adhere to the areas immediately surrounding theentrance to the condenser unit as well as on the water tube projectinginto the condenser region for delivering cooling fluid against theimpeller to produce the necessary spray for the condensation of themoisture vapors. While most of the lint is actually flushed down thedrain by the condenser operation itself during the drying cycle, a moresatisfactory and eflicient washing and drying operation will be obtainedif these deposits are flushed from the cylindrical casing and notpermitted to contaminate subsequent washing fluids or restrict air flowduring subsequent drying operations.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to reduce theaccumulation of lint associated with the contes Patent i denser unit ina combination washing and drying machine.

Patented June 6, 1961 ice It is a further object of the invention toeliminate lint by a stystem that is inexpensive to operate. Furtherobjects and advantages of this invention will become evident as thedescription proceeds and from an examination of the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention and in whichsimilar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a combination washerdrier, partiallybroken away, incorporating my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing the rightside of the combination washer-drier illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing the leftside of the combination washer-drier shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation, partially broken away, of the combinationwasher-drier unit shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE4 showing the blower condenser unit together with the lint flush nozzlefor maintaining this portion of the washer-drier unit free of lintbetween drying operations;

' FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the supporting hubstructure shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the blower condenserunit as shown in FIGURE 6 with a modified form of lint flush nozzle;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the modified form of lintflush nozzle shown in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation of an alternative form ofdrain pump assembly.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it will be seenthat the combination washer-drier unit shown in these drawings includesa substantially flat surfaced base frame 10 mounted on legs 11. Mountedon base frame 10 are the channel members 13 and 14 which are welded orsecurely aflixed in some suitable manner to the base frame 10 to formthe two major supports for the washer-drier unit illustrated in theaccompanying figures.

As apparent from an inspection of FIGURES l and 4 channel members 13 and14 are substantially triangular in elevational configuration with theapex of these members receiving pivot pins 16 and 17. These pivot pins16 and 17 are journalled in the flanged bearing sleeves 18 and 19,respectively, which form a two-point support for the tub brackets 21 and22, respectively. This allows the cylindrical tub or casing which isgenerally indicated by the arrow 24, and which is fastened to thebrackets 21 and 22, to oscillate back and forth on pins 16 and 17 in anarcuate movement in response to various forces generated within thattub.

Tub 24 is maintained in an upright position on pins 16 and 17 by the twocentering springs 25 connected between tub 24 and base 10 through thespring anchor brackets 26 fastened to the latter member. FIGURES 1 and 3show the tub 24 as being provided with a tub damper bracket 28 whichforms the support for the damper leaf spring 29 carrying the damper pad31 in a ball and socket joint at the end of the damper spring 29. Baseframe 10 is provided with an upstanding damper plate 32 which is engagedby the damper pad 31 to absorb and dissipate the energy imparted to tub24 causing it to oscillate on the supporting pivot pins 16 and 17.

Tub or casing 24 includes a generally cylindrical side wall 71, a pairof spaced rear walls 72 and 73 and a front wall 74. The front wall 74and outer rear wall 72 are connected to the cylindrical side wall 71 bymeans of the encompassing flanged hoop-like members 76 while the e se- 1partition wall or false tub back 73 positioned between walls 72 and 74is welded to side wall 71. It will be seen from an inspection of FIGURE5 that the spaced rear walls 72 and 73 support the tub bearing assemblygenerally indicated by the referepce numeral 80 and shown in detail inFIGURE 7.

The tub bearing assembly 80 includes a spacer hub 81 which is locatedbetween and which abuts the rear walls 72 and 73, and the threaded clampmember 82 receiving the spanner clamp nut 83 which, when tightened onmember 82, produces a rigid support for the bearing 85 and 86 adjacentwalls 72 and 73, respectively. A spacer sleeve 88 loosely encircling thedrum drive shaft 89 regulates the spacing between these bearings whichjournal drum drive shaft 89.

The rear end of the drum drive shaft 89 is rigidly connected to thelarge drive pulley 91 whereas its cantilevered front end is threadedinto the hub 94 of the drum or clothes tumbler 95. Tumbler 95 includes aperforate rear wall '96 which is rigidly aflixed to and cooperates withthe spider-like member 97 to form a double cone support connected to thehub 94 and providing a rigid support for the clothes basket 95 on drumdrive shaft 89. A sealing member 101 including a carbon nose ring 102pressed against the rear surface of this revoluble hub structure by coilspring 103 prevents water from the washing action carried on within tub24 from damaging bearings 85 and 86-.

As apparent from an inspection of FIGURE 5, the clothes drum or tumbler95 also includes a perforate cylindrical side wall 104 which carriesclothes elevating means 105. Side wall 104 merges into the short frontwall 106 and joins the flanged rear wall 96 in an overlappingrelationship to form a protruding flange 108 which, while not touchingwall 73, cooperates with that wall 73 to form an effective air seal toprevent heated air entering tub 24 through cylindrical side wall 71during the drying operations from being short circuited around the rearperipheral edge of drum 95.

Tub 24 includes a lower recessed portion 111 which forms a sump for tub24. A combination drain valve and drain pump assembly, indicatedgenerally by the arrow 112, communicates with sump 111 and is attachedto casing 24 in order .to control fluid flow from casing 24. While notshown in detail, the valve portion of assembly 112 is located betweensump 111 and the drain pump and includes a solenoid actuator controlledby timer mechanism 178 in order to retain washing and rinsing fluidswithin casing 24 during the washing operations of the machine whiledraining these fluids together with condensing fluids and condensatefrom the machine during other prescribed intervals. This valve isnormally closed but is opened by the energization of the actuatorsolenoid thereby permitting the continuously operating drain pump todischarge fluids from sump 111 to an external drain through the drainconduit 113.

Sump 111 includes a perforate tray 114 for preventing foreign particlespassing through the perforate drum into tub 24 and from entering anddamaging pump 112. Tray 114 is removable from its position shown inFIGURE 5 through the drum access door 115 provided in the side wall 104.

Tub 24 includes the circular loading opening 117 which is encircled bythe bellows seal 118 having its opposite end fastened around a similaropening formed in cabinet 119 enclosing this combination unit. Sealingmember 118 includes a number of convolutions permitting arcuate movementof tub 24 relative to cabinet 119. A rectangular door 121 hinged'oncabinet 119 carries a transparent door glass 122 having a cylindricalportion extending rearwardly through the bellows seal 118 which isprovided with a flexible annular sealing lip 124 engageable withtheperiphery of the glass door 122. This seals the unit while enabling theoperator of the machine to observe the operations taking place withintub 24 during the washing and drying processes. The lamp 126 fastened tothe exterior of the tub 24 shines through the transparent member 127carried in tub 24 for illuminating the interior of that tub unit duringthe loading operations i t i mac i e- Tub 24 also includes a heaterhousing 131 which may be formed separately or as a part of the casingside wall and which supports a heating element 132 capable of radiatingheat energy through an opening located in the cylindrical tub wall 71and covered by the heater housing 131. Heater housing 131 also mountsthe thermostat 133 which is connected in series with heater 132. Alouvered shielding member 134 carried by tub 24 and positioned betweenheater housing 131 and the heating element 132 creates a divided airflow into tub 24. This maintains heater housing 131 in a relatively coolcondition and directs a major portion of the heat from heating element132 into the clothes drum by way of the perforate side wall 104.

The power necessary to rotate drum 9.5 through the large pulley 91 issupplied by the single speed, double ended motor 137 which is mounted onbracket 138 carried on a lower portion of tub 24. One end of the motorshaft of motor 137 is connected to a flexible universal coupling 139which in turn is connected tothe transmission input shaft 140constituting an extension of the motor shaft.

The other end of the motor shaft is provided with a small drive pulley51 which rotates the input pulley 52 of the combination valve andrecirculating pump assembly 53 through the belt 54 which interconnectspulleys 51 and 5 2. R ecirculating assembly 53 is substantially like thecombination valve and pump assembly 112 with the ex: ception that it isof smaller capacity. The valve portion is closed during the centrifugingoperations in order to decrease the time allotted for the drain periodsbut is normally open during the wash and dry operations in order toproduce a constant flushiug action of various parts of the dasher-drier.

If recirculation of the condensing fluid used during the dryingoperation is objectionable, the valve portion may be moved to a closedposition during that operation also. On the other hand, if neither thelengthening oi the drain periods nor the recirculation of the condensingfluids is objectionable, the valve portion may be completely eliminatedleaving only the pump portion to produce the constant movement of fluidsthrough that pump when any such fluids are present within sump 111.

The discharge side of the pump assembly 53 is connected to a fluidrecirculating hose 56 which extends ap: proximately halfway up thecylindrical side wall 71 of casing 24 through which is protrudes. Hose56 generally parallels the rear surface of the partition wall 73 andterminates in a nozzle 57 provided with a major discharge aperture 58directed into the blower condenser unit described hereinafter.

A split pulley 141 having a pair of axially separable sheaves splined toeach other is rigidly connected to shaft 140 through one of its sheaves.The other sheave is constantly biased toward the shaft connected sheaveby means of the compression spring 142 which encircles the shaftextension 140. This arrangement automatically regulates the tension inthe small belt 144 which regulates the drain pump 112. whenever motor137 is energized.

Shaft extension 140 also drives the two speed transmission unit 145 andthe pulley 146 afiixed to the end of that portion of shaft 140 extendingcompletely through transmission 145. Transmission 145 is provided withan output pulley 147 which is connected to the large drum shaft pulley91 through belt 148. In the illustrative embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawings, an energization of the solenoid 149, whichcontrols the output speed of pulley 147, causes the clothes receptacle95 to be rotated at a speed of approximately 300 revolutions per minutewhile the deener gization of that solenoid causes receptacle 95 totumble its contents at approximately 50 revolutions per minute.

The pulley 146 aflixed to the end of shaft 140 is connected to the fanpulley 151 through the belt 152 so as to drive pulley 151 at a speedapproximately equal to that of motor 137. As shown in FIGURE 6, pulley151 is rigidly connected to an impeller shaft 155 which is journalled ina bearing 156 supported by the removable circular plate 157 bolted tothe rear wall 72 of tub 24.

A combination transmission support and belt tensioning device isprovided by the slotted bracket 158 which is connected to the rear wall72 through the adjustable machine screws 159. Bracket 158 journals shaft140 allowing the transmission unit 145 to pivot freely around thebearing receiving the latter shaft. By moving the transmission unit 145and its mounting bracket 158 away from the fan pulley 151, the slack maybe taken out of belt 152. The slack is automatically taken out of thetumbler drive belt 148 by means of the compression spring 161 mountedbetween bracket 158 and the transmission unit 145 and tending to pivottransmission unit 145 downwardly around shaft 140. The tension in thedrain pump belt 144 is automatically maintained during these adjustmentsby means of the spring biased split pulley 141.

A combination blower condenser unit capable of moving air through tub 24scrubbing lint from this air and condensing out the moisture from hotvapors produced within casing 24 during its drying operations ispositioned between portions of the spaced walls 72 and 73. As shown inFIGURE 6, the partition wall 73 is provided with a flanged opening 163which receives a rubber annular extension ring 164 terminating justshort of the blades of an impeller member 165 fixed to the impellershaft 155. Ring 164 is provided with a resilient lip 160 encompassingthe flange 162 formed on opening 163 and cooperates with that lattermember to define an orifice having a streamlined cross section forreducing air turbulence and consequently cooling fluid splash backthrough opening 163.

A housing for the impeller member 165 is produced by the cooperation ofwalls 72 and 73 with an imperforate scroll-shaped side wall 166 shown indotted lines in FIG- URE 4, and which bridges the space between walls 72and 73 to enclose the separate vapor condenser and blower units formedbetween these walls. A condenser water pipe 167 directed toward the hubof impeller 165 allows the latter member to break up the stream ofcondensing fluid discharged from the condenser pipe 167 and therebyproduces a cool mist, spray and fog for condensing out hot moisturevapors entering this blower condenser unit through opening 163 duringthe drying operations of the combination washer-drier. Parts within thisblower housing may be cleaned, adjusted or easily replaced in some casesby removing plate 157.

A series of small curved moisture entrained baffle plates 168 and ahorizontal baffle plate 169, shown in the brokenaway portion of FIGURE4, also bridge walls 72 and 73 to centrifugally separate out thedroplets of moisture carried in the air leaving the blower housing unitand entering the heater housing unit 131 for reheating and recirculationthrough tub 24 and clothes receptacle 95. These plates 168 and 169 arenot concerned with any vapor condensing function as that function iscompletely accomplished within the confines of members 71, 72, 73 and166. Members 168 and 169 do, however, prevent excess moisture in fluidform from being carried into heater housing 131.

The water for the vapor condensing operation is supplied through theexternal conduit 172 while Water for washing operation is suppliedthrough the conduit 173 which empties into the cup 174 attached tocasing 24 and provided with a flapper check valve 175 and draining intotub 24 between walls 73 and 74. Flapper valve 175 not only prevents sudsfrom escaping from tub 174 during the washing operation but alsoprevents steamy vapors from escaping from within the front washing anddrying chamber of tub 24 and condensing on the cooler interior surfacesof cabinet 119. Since there is a tendency to compress air within thefront chamber due to the expansion of heated air and due to the pumpingaction of hte tumbling fabrics within drum 95, the flapper check valve177 covering the vapor breather hole 178 in rear wall 72 is provided.This allows air to escape from tub 2-4 in a unidirectional breathingaction through these two flapper check valves 175 and 177 withoutproducing condensation on the cabinet surfaces since the air escapingthrough the breather hole 178 is cooled by means of the blower condenserunit within scroll 166 before being discharged through aperture 178.

Since sump 111 which receives the washing and condensing fluidsdischarged into casing 24 is positioned between walls 73 and 74, a smalldrain aperture 176 is provided in wall 73 to enable the condensingfluid, its resulting condensate and the lint scrubbed from the airentering the combination blower condensing unit to pass into sump 111and into the drain pump 112 for discharge to an external drain.

It should be noted that since the function of drain aperture 176 is todrain fluids from the space between walls 72 and 73, its size and shapeis dictated by the quantity of liquid flowing through it and thepossible effects of lint accumulation in this area. A conduit leadingfrom a drain port in the lowest portion of side wall 71 to sump 111 ordirectly to a valve communicating with an external drain wouldaccomplish a similar function. An oversize aperture or conduit in,through or around wall 73 would have the undesirable effect of shortcircuiting unheated air into the clothes receptacle during the dryingoperations.

In operation, during the washing operation, warm water is fed into thecasing 24 to the desired fluid level through conduit 173. Drum 95 withits load of fabrics is then rotated at a tumbling speed in this body offluid to effect a conventional tumbling and cleansing action which isfollowed by a series of rinses and centrifuging operations to leave thefabrics in a damp-dry condition at the start of the drying operation.This washing operation will tend to wash the lower portion of casing 24,including that portion between walls 72 and 73, free of most lint whichmay have remained in this casing after a previous drying operation.

While rotation of drum 95 in approximately three inches of water duringthe washing operation aids in keeping the clothes receptacle 95relatively free of lint, the blower condenser unit is flushed by theoperation of the lint flush device which recirculates a portion of thewashing fluid over those areas adjacent the condenser unit which have agreater tendency to gather lint during the drying operation than do theother areas within the washer-drier. Since motor 137 rotates constantlyduring both the washing and drying operations, the recirculating pumpassembly 53 is capable of pumping upwardly through tube 56 wheneverfluid is present within sump 111 and whenever the valve portion ofassembly 53 is opened to permit such a fluid flow. Since that valveportion of assembly 53 is opened during the washing and rinsingoperations, fluid flows through nozzle 57 and out aperture 58 againstimpeller which is also constantly rotated by motor 137. The washingfluid impinging on impeller 165 is broken up into a misty spray whichbathes the impeller 165 as well as the inside areas of the blowercondenser unit with the detergent solution normally available in thewashing operations so as to produce an eflicient cleansing operation ofthese areas.

Since there is a tendency for the water condenser tube 167 to cool downduring the drying operations due to the cooling fluid passing throughit, moisture condensation tends to take place on the outer surfaces ofthis tube. By perforating the recirculating nozzle 57 as partially shownby the small jet openings 59 located beneath condenser tube .167,condenser tube 167 is washed free of lint accumulations that may havetaken place during previous drying operations. Tube 59 may also beslightly reformed in order to accommodate jet openings capable ofwashing the inside of flange 162 as well as those areas adjacent theperforate tub wall 96 and that portion of wall 73 immediately aroundopenings 163.

While FIGURE 6 illustrates one method of flushing lint from variousareas tending to accumulate lint, this method may be modified in anumber of ways in order to accomplish the same objectives. For example,while nozzle 57 is shown as being positioned parallel to the condenserfluid conduit 167, nozzle 57 may also be inserted in different radialpositions around scroll 166, as better envisioned by reference to FIGURE4, so that the washing and rinsing fluid can be impinged against theperiphery of impeller 165, or even in somewhat of a reverse directionthrough opening 163. While only one lint flush nozzle 57 is illustrated,it will be appreciated that a plurality of such nozzles fed by thesingle conduit 56 could be utilized to produce the lint flush objectivesof this invention.

A slight modification of the shape and the location of thelint flushnozzle construction is shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. From these figures itwill be seen that the terminus of the recirculation hose 56 does notcompletely parallel condenser conduit 167 as is in the case of .FIG- URE6. While entering side wall 71 in ,a similar manner, hose 56 parallelscondenser conduit 167 for only a short distance before veering forwardlyto pass through partition wall 73 and then terminate in -a fan-shapednozzle 61 which is positioned in front of and in parallel relationship,

to the latter partition wall.

While pump assembly 53 functions the same in both embodiments described,the nozzle embodiment of FIG- URES 8 and 9 functions somewhatdifferently. Washing and rinsing fluids pumped through hose 56 aredischarged in a sheet of fluid some of which sweeps across the frontface of that portion of wall 73 around opening 163 and some of which isdrawn into the blower condenser unit by the suction produced by rotationof impeller 165 resulting in the cleansing of tube 167 and the partswithin the blower condenser unit by the impinging of this fluid withimpeller 165. The primary advantage of this latter modification lies inthe fact that it produces an eflicient flushing of areas around opening163, flange 162 and those portions of walls 73 and 96 which arepositioned closer to the axis of rotation of drum 95 due to the fanningout of the fluid leaving tan nozzle 61. This action, in addition to theflushing, or bathing, action produced by the rotation of drum 95, tendsto thoroughly flush all areas traversed by the air flowing through thisillustrated combination washer-drier and prevents lint from accumulatingto any extent and interfering with the air flow necessary for tetficient operations. In addition, the lint flush action produced by thecooperation of the described elements prevents any contamination ofwashing fluids subsequently placed within casing 24.

While the two illustrative embodiments of FIGURES 6 and 8 have each beenpowered by a pump system separate from the drain pump assembly 112,either modification may be operated from the drain pump assembly 112 asshown in the fragmentary view of FIGURE 10. In that view therecirculating hose 56 taps into assembly 112 ahead of the drain valve ofthat latter assembly thereby making fluids available to hose '6 wheneverfluids are present within sump 111. Since the drain periods tend to belengthened somewhat by the recirculation of the fluids during thedrain-out operations and since it may not be desirable to recirculatethe condensing fluids during the drying operation, the normally openedsolenoid operated valve 63 which is controlled by timer 173 and mountedon casing 24 is provided in order to terminate fluid .flow through hose56 if so desired. It will be apparent from this description that theoperation of either embodiment of FIGURE 6 or FIGURE 8 is practicallyidentical regardless of whether the fluid pressure is supplied by theseparate pump assembly 53 or the drain pump assembly 112.

During the drying operations when heat is applied to the fabrics withindrum by the energization of heater 132, an evaporation of moisture fromthese fabrics takes place. Since the impeller rotates whenever drivemotor 137 is energized, the resulting moisture vapors are drawn throughopening 163 in the false back 73 and are carried into the blower housingformed by the cooperation of scroll 166 with walls 71, 72 and 73. Themoisture vapors entering this blower housing which partially encompassesimpeller 165, are cooled and condensed due to its intimate contact witha misty spray produced by the impingement of cooling fluid flowingthrough tube 167 onto the hub of the rotating impeller 165 which is alsodriven by motor 137. It will be apparent from FIGURE 6 that theimpingement of this cooling fluid against the hub of impeller 165 ratherthan against'the blades themselves will reduce the amount of splash backthrough opening 163.

While the efficiency of this condenser unit is dependent upon manydesign factors, tests have shown that units built in accordance with theillustrative drawings condense out all of the moisture from the airduring its circulation between walls 72 and 73 by the time that the airleaves the effluent opening formed by the cooperation of the lower endof scroll 166 with its adjacent-casing walls.

Since the air leaving drum 95 and entering the housing formed withinscroll 166 encounters a violent misty spray which thoroughly scrubs theair entering that blower housing .free of any suspended particles, theair entering opening 163 is thoroughly removed of its airborne lint andsaturated with cooling fluid prior to the time that it leaves eifluentport 180.

While most of the cooling fluid, condensate and lint discharged from theblower housing formed between walls 72 and 73 is discharged throughopening 176 and sump 111 to drain, the air flow through this combinationunit, which is approximately 150 cubic feet per minute, has a tendency,due to the restricted area of the efliuent opening 180 of that blowerhousing, to produce some carry-over of the smaller moisture particlespast opening 176.

In order to separate these smaller moisture particles and any lintcarried by them from the air stream prior to its reentry into heaterhousing 131, that air stream is passed through a series of small curvedmoisture entraining baflie plates 168 which cause a sharp reversal ofthe air flow to take place after it has been discharged from the blowerhousing between walls 72 and 73. This reversal of air flow, which isdirected approximately toward rotational axis of the drum 95 causes themoisture particles to become centrifugally separated from the air streamwith the result that they are caught on the baffles 168 to reduce thetotal moisture content of the air as it travels upwardly between walls72 and 73.

The positioning of baflle 169 between walls 72 and 73 represents anadditional means for preventing the air leaving baflles 168 fromprogressing directly toward heator housing 131. Batlie 169 requires theair progressing from the blower housing and bafile members 168 toprogress upwardly between scroll 166 and the end of baflle 169 as itpasses around the tub bearing assembly 80.

Air progressing upwardly in this diagonal direction must again reverseits direction of travel prior to entry into heater housing 131 therebypresenting an additional opportunity for residual droplets to beseparated from the air stream prior to its entry into housing 131 duringthe drying operation. Since these particles tend to gravitate towardscroll 166, this latter member has in actual practice been slightlyspaced from side wall 71 to allow these droplets to drain to the bottomof casing 24 and pass through opening 176. It should also be stated atthis point that in actual practice, scroll 166 and baflies 168 and 169have been rigidly aflixed to the rear wall 72 and have extended towardbut have not contacted the false back 73 at all apparent junction pointsbetween these members because of manufacturing tolerances, however, forall practical purposes these members 166, 168 and 169 do span or bridgethe space between walls 72 and 73.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of the parts,as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient, Without departing fromthe spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for washing and drying fabrics during washing and dryingoperations, a casing including walls defining a container adapted toretain a pool of cleansing fluid during said Washing operation and forconfining lint shaken loose from said fabrics during said dryingoperation, means for supplying cleansing fluids, to said container,means positioned within said container for tumbling fabrics, a vaporcondenser chamber externally of said container, means for supplyingcondensing fluids to said vapor condenser chamber, an opening in one ofsaid walls of the casing located above the bottom of said container andabove the level of cleansing fluid within said container, said openingcommunicating with said vapor condenser chamber, conduit means forreturning air from said vapor condenser chamber to said container,heating means for drying fabrics positioned in the path of the returnair from said conduit, a revoluble impeller located adjacent saidopening for circulating air during the drying operation in a closed paththrough said opening, through said vapor condenser chamber, and oversaid heating means and returning to said container, means for rotatingsaid impeller during said washing and drying operations to move air fromsaid container to said vapor condenser chamber, means for circulating apart of the cleansing fluids into the air stream drawn by said impellerand for flushing portions of said vapor condenser chamber and saidimpeller free from lint accumulations deposited during previous dryingoperations, and communication means for returning the circulatedcleansing fluid from said vapor condenser chamber to said container.

2. In a machine for washing and drying fabrics during washing and dryingoperations, a casing including walls defining a container adapted toretain a pool of cleansing fluid during said washing operation and forconfining lint shaken loose from said fabrics during said dryingoperation, means for supplying cleansing fluids to said container, avapor condenser chamber positioned externally of said container, anopening communicating with said vapor condenser chamber located in oneof said walls and elevated above the bottom of said container and abovethe pool of cleansing fluid, conduit means for returning air from saidvapor condenser chamber to said container, heating means for drying thefabrics positioned in the path of return air from said conduit, arevoluble impeller adjacent said opening, means for supplying condensingfluids to said vapor condenser chamber including a condensing fluidnozzle directed against said impeller for delivering cooling fluidagainst said impeller during drying operations, said impeller beingrevoluble to move air in a closed path into said vapor condenserchamber, and returning to said container through said conduit acrosssaid heating means, means for directing part of the cleansing fluidswhich accumulate in said container during washing operations ontoportions of said vapor condenser chamber to flush accumulated lintdeposits therefrom and communication means between said vapor condenserchamber and said container for returning the circulated washing fluidfrom said vapor condenser chamber to said container.

3. In a machine for washing and drying fabrics during washing and dryingoperations, a casing including walls defining a container adapted toretain a pool of cleansing fluid during said washing operation and forconfining lint shaken loose from said fabrics during said dryingoperation, means for supplying cleansing fluids to said container, avapor condenser chamber positioned externally of said container, conduitmeans for returning air from said vapor condenser chamber to saidcontainer, heating means for drying the fabrics positioned in the pathof return air from said conduit, an opening in one of said Wallscommunicating with said vapor condenser chamber and positioned above thepool of cleansing fluid, a revoluble impeller in said vapor condenserchamber adjacent said opening, means for rotating said impeller duringsaid drying operations to move air from said container to said vaporcondenser chamber, a condensing fluid conduit having an apertureadjacent to and for delivering cooling fluid against said impeller, pumpmeans for circulating and directing quantities of cleansing fluids pastsaid opening and onto said impeller to flush said vapor condenserchamber free of any lint accumulations deposited therein during previousdrying operations, and communication means for returning the circulatedWashing fluid from said vapor condenser chamber to said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,512,394 Sullivan June 20, 1950 2,555,725 Archbold June 5, 19512,561,257 Woodson July 17, 1951 2,607,209 Constantine Aug. 19, 19522,813,414 Johnston Nov. 19, 1957 2,834,121 Geldhof May 13, 19582,892,335 Gray June 30, 1959 2,910,854 Hughes Nov. 3, 1959 2,921,384Smith Jan. 19. 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 166,902 Australia Feb. 9, 1956

